Region 3 – Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina

General information on this region:

·         Population

o   Mississippi 2.98 million

o   Alabama 4.80 million

o   Georgia 9.82 million

o   Florida 19.06 million

o   South Carolina 4.68 million

o   57.40 million total

·         Major metropolitan centers:

Mississippi

o   No population densities over 178 thousand (Jackson)

Alabama

o   Birmingham – 231 thousand

o   Mobile – 192 thousand

o   Montgomery – 200 thousand

Florida

o   St. Petersburg FL – 249 thousand

o   Orlando FL – 213 thousand

o   Miami FL – 386 thousand

o   Tampa FL – 326 thousand

Georgia

o   Atlanta GA – 471 thousand

o   Columbus GA – 186 thousand

South Carolina

o   No population densities over 118 thousand (Columbia)

o   2.45 million total

·         Objective: 

o   A little over 4% of the entire population of region 3 live in high density areas of 200 thousand or more.  These population densities are referred to as “threat areas” and are identified in FIG 1 as threat rings around those areas.  The red rings are the high threat areas (25 mile radius around city centers) while the larger outer yellow rings (50 mile radius around city centers) are medium threat areas.  It isn’t until you move outside of the threat areas that you can consider your environment relatively safe again.  Even then, you must remain vigilant and be aware that a threat can present itself anywhere at any time.  The objective of this rally point plan is to move people out of chaotic high population density areas through initial rally points (user-selected points within the threat area) in route to intermediate rally points on public land (local, state or national parks and recreation areas, etc.).  Such areas will generally be within 5 days walk from threat areas centers.   Intermediate rally points will be outside of populated areas so that the survivors can take more time to prepare for their movement toward their respective final points which are all well outside threat areas. 

Initial Rally Points

Initial rally points are inside of the threat areas and are chosen to allow for quick stops for getting organized and as reference points for getting oriented.  They are selected by the members that live in that area.  The reason for this approach is because people who live and work in the area are going to know it better than any outside planner, what will or will not work as a staging area for their movement through, and eventually away from threat areas.  This is a simple matter of looking around the area in advance where you live and do two things:

1-      Select a location or locations that meet the description for an initial rally point in this plan

2-      Communicate this with individuals that you want to include in your plan and potentially have with you during your movement.  Selection of these points is based upon predictable local social reactions under emergency conditions as well as ease of access to allow for temporary safety and short term stops for members to check in, become organized and get any necessary medical attention, and / or distribution of supplies amongst persons in the group.  

.  When selecting these initial rally points, consider the following:

·         Should be public property but can also be private land owned by someone you are familiar with provided you have made prior arrangements to use the property

·         Preferred to be near main roads or highways maintaining easy access to egress route(s)

·         A potential source for shelter, food and water if necessary

·         If public or commercial property consider the following:

o   Church parking lots

o   Convention center parking lots

o   School / sport venue parking lots

·         Avoid using any of the following:

o   Liquor store parking lots

o   Grocery store parking lots

o   Convenience store parking lots

o   Drug store parking lots

o   Sporting goods store lots

o   Any area where there may be an increased incidence of looting, robbery, or loitering concentration of dangerous individuals or groups

o   Tunnels / underpasses

Initial rally points may or may not be used and can be bypassed to go directly to the intermediate rally points if conditions dictate and resources allow.

Route Entry Points

Route entry points are rally points established outside of the red zones with many outside of the yellow zones.  These rally points are established for larger numbers of members to use and to provide the first geographic location where members can expect to link up with others from their threat area.

Threat area 1

Atlanta (GA)

Threat Area 1 – Atlanta

Geographically, Atlanta is essentially unrestricted in any direction although travel to the East and south would be counterproductive to safety.

Route entry point for Atlanta – Since Atlanta (GA), Montgomery (AL), Birmingham (AL) and Columbus (GA) are in such close proximity to each other, and the final rally point for all four of these threat areas is basically in the middle of all, there is no route entry point out of Atlanta. 

Final Rally Point for Atlanta – Talladega National Forest - Coordinates for this location are: 27.564803, -90.321858

Threat area 2

Birmingham (AL)

Threat Area 2 – Birmingham

Route entry point for Birmingham – Since Atlanta (GA), Montgomery (AL), Birmingham (AL) and Columbus (GA) are in such close proximity to each other, and the final rally point for all four of these threat areas is basically in the middle of all, there is no route entry point out of Birmingham. 

Final Rally Point for Atlanta – Talladega National Forest - Coordinates for this location are: 27.564803, -90.321858

Threat area 3

Columbus (GA)

Threat Area 3 – Columbus

Route entry point for Columbus – Since Atlanta (GA), Montgomery (AL), Birmingham (AL) and Columbus (GA) are in such close proximity to each other, and the final rally point for all four of these threat areas is basically in the middle of all, there is no route entry point out of Columbus. 

Final Rally Point for Columbus – Talladega National Forest - Coordinates for this location are: 27.564803, -90.321858

Threat area 4

Montgomery (AL)

Threat Area 4 – Montgomery

Route entry point for Montgomery – Since Atlanta (GA), Montgomery (AL), Birmingham (AL) and Columbus (GA) are in such close proximity to each other, and the final rally point for all four of these threat areas is basically in the middle of all, there is no route entry point out of Montgomery. 

Final Rally Point for Montgomery – Talladega National Forest - Coordinates for this location are: 27.564803, -90.321858

Threat area 5

Mobile (AL)

Threat Area 5 – Mobile

Geographically, Mobile is restricted to the south by the Gulf of Mexico and to the east and west by other bodies of water (Mobile Bay) and other threat areas.  Movement out of this threat area should be in a northerly direction only.

Route entry point for Mobile – Intersection of I-65 and US 43 - Coordinates for this location are: 30.877229, -88.044636

Final Rally Point for Mobile – Talladega National Forest – Coordinates for this location are: 27.564803, -90.321858

PLANNING ADVISORY

Threat areas 6 through 9 are geographically disadvantaged due to their location.  These threat areas are essentially located on a peninsula and can only be egressed in one direction (north).  To complicate this movement, the road / highway system is greatly limited by swampland and wilderness.  This area is not only lacking in established routes to the north but it is also dangerous to move through if manmade routes were to become unusable for whatever reason.  For these reasons, it is highly recommended that ASN personnel who reside in threat areas 6 through 9 or any area south of the Florida panhandle, plan your movement in advance of the potential rush.  Your plan may be done in two phases.  Phase one where you make your initial movement to a location in the panhandle area followed by phase two where you move from there to your respective final rally point inland.

Threat area 6

Orlando (FL)

Threat Area 6 – Orlando –

As advised, Orlando is on a peninsula which requires careful planning to successfully negotiate in a post event environment.  Movement is to the North Northwest only.  The only option not accounted for in the ASN Rally Point Plans is the use of a boat to get to a better geographic position to move from.

Route entry point for threat area 6 – Intersection of I-75 and FL Turnpike N - Coordinates for this location are: 28.859146, -82.090886

Final Rally Point for Orlando – Talladega National Forest - Coordinates for this location are: 27.564803, -90.321858

Threat area 7 and 8

St. Petersburg (FL) and Tampa (FL)

Threat Area 7 – St. Petersburg

As advised, St. Petersburg and Tampa are on a peninsula which requires careful planning to successfully negotiate in a post event environment.  Movement is to the North Northwest only.  The only option not accounted for in the ASN Rally Point Plans is the use of a boat to get to a better geographic position to move from.  These two threat areas are close enough together to consider as one, therefore movement away from threat areas 7 and 8 is essentially the same.

Route entry point for threat areas 7 and 8 – Intersection of I-75 and FL Turnpike N - Coordinates for this location are: 28.859146, -82.090886

Final Rally Point for Orlando – Talladega National Forest - Coordinates for this location are: 27.564803, -90.321858

Threat area 9

Miami (FL)

Threat Area 9 – Miami

As advised, Miami is on a peninsula which requires careful planning to successfully negotiate in a post event environment.  Movement is to the North Northwest only.  The only option not accounted for in the ASN Rally Point Plans is the use of a boat to get to a better geographic position to move from.  Due to both the isolated nature of Miami and the distance that it is from inland routes makes Miami a very high risk area to travel from.

Route entry point for threat area 9 – Intersection of I-75 and FL Turnpike N - Coordinates for this location are: 28.859146, -82.090886

Final Rally Point for Orlando – Talladega National Forest - Coordinates for this location are: 27.564803, -90.32185